Audition Requirements
Brass
1.Two movements (of contrasting style) of any concerto or equivalent work.
2.Choose one from the following (or any combination thereof):
•An etude of choice.
•An orchestral etude of choice.
•A different solo work of choice.
Sight reading and/or scales may be required at the discretion of the faculty.
Woodwinds
Two solo pieces and one technical etude.
1.The first solo selection should be in a slower tempo to demonstrate tone production, control and phrasing.
2.The second solo selection should be in a moderately quick to fast tempo to demonstrate dexterity and technical facility.
3.A technical study or etude.
Sight reading may be required at the discretion of the faculty.
NOTE: Clarinetists must audition on a B-flat (soprano) clarinet. Saxophonists must audition on either an alto or tenor instrument.
Percussion
1. Mallets:
•A prepared solo for two mallets and four mallets
2.Snare Drum:
•An etude from Portraits in Rhythm by Cirone
•Long roll at all dynamic levels
3.Timpani:
•Tuning
•A prepared étude from Goodman or Lepak method book
4.Sight Reading:
•Sight reading on mallet instruments and snare drum
Applicants should bring a copy of all materials.
Organ
Performance degree
1. A major organ work by J. S. Bach, either a prelude and fugue or trio sonata.
2. Two selections from either the 19th or 20th century, one lyrical and one virtuoso.
Sight reading may be required at the discretion of the faculty.
Non-performance degree
1.A major organ work by J. S. Bach, either a prelude and fugue or trio sonata.
2.One selection from either the 19th or 20th century.
3.A Hymn.
Sight reading may be required at the discretion of the faculty.
Piano
Undergraduate degree
For piano auditions, all works must be performed by memory. Some demonstration of sight-reading and playing scales may be required. Literature:
1. A prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier or comparable large work by J. S. Bach.
2. A first or final movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert.
3. A work from the Romantic period.
4. A work from the Twentieth Century or a jazz selection that includes improvisation.
Graduate degree
The applicant is expected to present a solo program of at least 30 minutes in length that includes a representation of at least three contrasting styles. The program must include a complete sonata (by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven or Schubert) and a work from the twentieth century. All works must be performed by memory.
Sight reading may be required at the discretion of the faculty.
Strings
Performance degree
1.One movement of a standard concerto or sonata.
2.Major and minor scales.
3.A solo piece or etude in contrasting style and tempo to the chosen concerto.
Sight reading may be required at the discretion of the faculty.
Non-performance degree
1. Two contrasting movements or solo pieces.
Sight reading may be required at the discretion of the faculty.
Voice
1.Two art songs by classical composers memorized and accompanied by piano. A foreign-language art song may be used if appropriate to the student's level.
Sight reading may be required at the discretion of the faculty.
NOTE: An accompanist will be provided, if requested. If possible, a copy of the music or titles and composers should be furnished in advance.
Jazz Studies, all instruments
Note: students are officially admitted into the jazz emphasis program after the successful completion of their sophomore hearing.
A. Required Repertoire:
1. Prepare two contrasting pieces from the jazz idiom. These should be memorized and must include performance of the melody as well as improvisation. Prerecorded accompaniment may be used (Aebersold, Ricker, Dobbins, etc.) if ‘live’ accompaniment is unavailable. The candidate is responsible for providing the audio CD or cassette tape.
Recommended selections: Billie's Bounce, Au Privave, Oleo, Solar, All The Things You Are, Body and Soul, Blue Bossa, Beautiful Love, Out of Nowhere.
2. Prepare two contrasting selections from the classical repertoire.
B. Sight Reading
C. Special Requirements
•Drummers must demonstrate:
• various styles at various tempos (swing, shuffle, Afro-Cuban, funk, bossa, samba, etc.)
•proficiency with brushes as well as sticks
•facility on mallet instruments (vibes and marimbas will be provided)
•In addition, jazz drummers must demonstrate classical skills by performing:
◦any snare drum etude from Portraits in Rhythm by Cirone
◦a prepared mallet solo
•Bass players must demonstrate the ability to improvise appropriate bass lines on each piece. •Pianists must demonstrate ‘comping’ on all jazz pieces.